HEROIC CHAPLAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25564, 17 June 1944, Page 6

HEROIC CHAPLAIN

KILLED IN NORMANDY ATTACHED TO MARINE COMMANDOS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, June 15. The first chaplain to be killed during the invasion of France was the Rev. Derrick Novell Williams, son of the late Mr Hal Williams, of Hawke’s Bay, a well-known architect, who lived in London for many years. During the blitz Mr Williams was known as the courageous curate of Christ Church, Stepney, which was burned out in a heavy raid. Mr Williams went out every night in the blitz in the streets rescuing people, putting out fires, and giving them comfort in their bereavements. He later worked in a munitions factory during the week, and took charge of Putney Church at the week-ends. Then he joined the army. He first served as a private in intelligence before volunteering for the commandos. He was attached to the Royal Marine commandos when he was killed. He voluntarily undertook fullscale training. He was dropped behind the enemy lines on D-Day. His widow said: “He wanted to see the Nazis crash, and his one great desire was to help to strike the blow by taking part in the second front.” A friend said: “ Just before he had the call to stand by for D-Day he said to me, ‘ I am, going out there to do God’s work, but as they won’t give me a gun I shall take a stout stick with me to give the Huns a pasting.’ He could have been in France for only a few hours when he was killed, but it was the kind of death for which he would have asked.”

Mr Williams, who was 30 and six feet tall, married Rosalind Anne Harris just before the war. He leaves two children—Simon, aged two years, and Euan, aged two months. "He was fearless,” was the tribute paid by the vicar under whom he served in Stepney, the Rev. S. J. H. Groser. “He was the sort of boy who was always in the middle of it. He would either get the Victoria Cross or be killed. During the raid on Stepney he was one of those instrumental in saving the public library collection. The library was on fire, but he went in and out of the blaze fetching books. He took no notice of . any danger when he carried out his rescue work.” His mother lives at Bedford square, London.